Assembly security alert in the North a hoax

A security alert at the Northern Ireland Assembly has been declared a hoax, the PSNI said tonight.

Officers carried out searches in the Stormont estate as part of the probe.

Assembly members’ car parks were among areas being searched.

There are separate alerts in the Holmdene Crescent and Elmfield Street areas of north Belfast, which are continuing.

The investigation follows the attack on the Parliament Buildings in November 2006 by loyalist killer Michael Stone, who burst inside claiming to have a bomb.

He was carrying a gun, knife and suspect devices in a bag when he was trapped by two security guards in the revolving front door.